JP5003664B2 - Driving method of plasma display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a driving method of a plasma display device using an AC type plasma display panel.

  A typical plasma display panel (hereinafter abbreviated as “panel”) as an image display device having a large number of pixels arranged in a plane has a large number of discharge cells having scan electrodes, sustain electrodes, and data electrodes. The phosphors are excited and emitted by gas discharge generated inside each discharge cell to perform color display.

  In a plasma display device using such a panel, a subfield method is mainly used as a method for displaying an image. In this method, one field period is constituted by a plurality of subfields with predetermined luminance weights, and an image is displayed by controlling light emission / non-light emission of each discharge cell in each subfield.

  The plasma display apparatus includes a scan electrode drive circuit for driving the scan electrodes, a sustain electrode drive circuit for driving the sustain electrodes, and a data electrode drive circuit for driving the data electrodes, and the drive circuits for the electrodes are respectively A necessary drive voltage waveform is applied to the electrodes. Among them, the data electrode driving circuit applies an address pulse for an address operation independently for each of a large number of data electrodes based on the image signal.

  When the panel is viewed from the data electrode driving circuit side, each data electrode is a capacitive load having a stray capacitance between the adjacent data electrode, scan electrode and sustain electrode. Therefore, in order to apply a driving voltage waveform to each data electrode, this capacity must be charged and discharged, and power consumption for that purpose is required.

  The power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit increases as the charge / discharge current of the capacity of the data electrode increases, but this charge / discharge current greatly depends on the image signal to be displayed. For example, when the address pulse is not applied to all the data electrodes, the charge / discharge current is “0”, so that the power consumption is minimized. Conversely, when the address pulse is applied to all the data electrodes, the charge / discharge current is “0”, so the power consumption is small. However, when an address pulse is randomly applied to the data electrode, the charge / discharge current increases and the power consumption also increases.

Therefore, as a method of reducing the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit, for example, the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit is calculated based on the image signal, and when the power consumption is large, the writing operation is performed from the subfield having the smallest luminance weight. A method of prohibiting and limiting the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Alternatively, a method of reducing the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit by replacing the original image signal with an image signal that reduces the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-66638 A JP 2002-149109 A

  However, the methods described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are mainly used to protect the plasma display device from destruction when the power consumption increases excessively, and there is a possibility that the display quality of the image is greatly impaired.

  However, in recent years, the power consumption of the data electrode drive circuit tends to steadily increase with the increase in screen size and definition. Therefore, a power reduction method that can be used constantly without sacrificing image display quality has been desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a driving method of a plasma display device that can reduce power consumption of a data electrode driving circuit without sacrificing image display quality.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a plurality of subfields with predetermined luminance weights for one field period, and a combination for display by selecting a plurality of combinations from any combination of subfields. A method of driving a plasma display apparatus for creating a set and displaying gradation by controlling light emission / non-light emission of a discharge cell using a combination of subfields belonging to a display combination set. comprising a combination set for display of the red image signal, a green image signal, by comparing the respective signal levels of the blue image signal, for relatively signal of a lower level color image signals, the relative In addition, a display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than a display combination set used for an image signal of a color with a high signal level is used. By this method, it is possible to provide a plasma display device driving method capable of reducing the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit without sacrificing the image display quality.

  Further, the driving method of the plasma display device of the present invention is a display combination set in which the average value of the Hamming distance between a certain gradation and the next higher gradation in the combination set for display with a small number of combinations is large. It is desirable to be smaller than the average value of the Hamming distance between a certain gradation and the next higher gradation.

  Further, the driving method of the plasma display apparatus of the present invention compares the signal level of the red image signal and the signal level of the green image signal to obtain a red image signal whose ratio to the green image signal is smaller than a predetermined constant. On the other hand, a display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than the display combination set used for a red image signal whose ratio to the green image signal is a predetermined constant or more may be used.

  The plasma display apparatus driving method of the present invention compares the signal level of the green image signal, the signal level of the red image signal, and the signal level of the blue image signal, and compares the red image signal with the blue image signal. For a green image signal whose ratio to the larger image signal is smaller than a predetermined constant, the ratio of the red image signal and the blue image signal to the larger image signal is greater than or equal to a predetermined constant. A display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than the display combination set used for the image signal may be used.

  Further, the driving method of the plasma display device of the present invention compares the signal level of the blue image signal with the signal level of the green image signal to obtain a blue image signal whose ratio to the green image signal is smaller than a predetermined constant. On the other hand, a display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than a display combination set used for a blue image signal whose ratio to the green image signal is a predetermined constant or more may be used.

  Further, the driving method of the plasma display apparatus according to the present invention provides a display combination set having a smaller number of combinations for an image signal for displaying a moving image than a display combination set for an image signal for displaying a still image. May be used.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the drive method of the plasma display apparatus which can reduce the power consumption of a data electrode drive circuit, without sacrificing image display quality.

  Hereinafter, a plasma display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of panel 10 of the plasma display device in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of display electrode pairs 24 each including a scanning electrode 22 and a sustaining electrode 23 are formed on a glass front substrate 21. A dielectric layer 25 is formed so as to cover the display electrode pair 24, and a protective layer 26 is formed on the dielectric layer 25. A plurality of data electrodes 32 are formed on the back substrate 31, a dielectric layer 33 is formed so as to cover the data electrodes 32, and a grid-like partition wall 34 is formed thereon. A phosphor layer 35R that emits red light, a phosphor layer 35G that emits green light, and a phosphor layer 35B that emits blue light are provided on the side surfaces of the partition walls 34 and the dielectric layer 33.

  The front substrate 21 and the rear substrate 31 are arranged to face each other so that the display electrode pair 24 and the data electrode 32 intersect each other with a minute discharge space interposed therebetween, and the outer periphery thereof is sealed with a sealing material such as glass frit. Has been. In the discharge space, for example, a mixed gas of neon and xenon is enclosed as a discharge gas. The discharge space is partitioned into a plurality of sections by partition walls 34, and discharge cells are formed at the intersections between the display electrode pairs 24 and the data electrodes 32. These discharge cells discharge and emit light to display an image.

  Note that the structure of the panel 10 is not limited to the above-described structure, and for example, the panel 10 may include a stripe-shaped partition wall.

  FIG. 2 is an electrode array diagram of panel 10 of the plasma display device in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In panel 10, n scanning electrodes SC1 to SCn (scanning electrode 22 in FIG. 1) and n sustaining electrodes SU1 to SUn (sustaining electrode 23 in FIG. 1) long in the row direction are arranged and long in the column direction. M data electrodes D1 to Dm (data electrode 32 in FIG. 1) are arranged. A discharge cell is formed at a portion where one pair of scan electrode SCi (i = 1 to n) and sustain electrode SUi intersects one data electrode Dj (j = 1 to m), and the discharge cell is in the discharge space. M × n are formed. Then, three adjacent discharge cells including a discharge cell provided with the red phosphor layer 35R, a discharge cell provided with the green phosphor layer 35G, and a discharge cell provided with the blue phosphor layer 35B are provided. It corresponds to one pixel when displaying an image.

  FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of plasma display device 40 in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The plasma display device 40 includes a panel 10, an image signal processing circuit 41, a data electrode drive circuit 42, a scan electrode drive circuit 43, a sustain electrode drive circuit 44, a timing generation circuit 45, and a power supply circuit that supplies necessary power to each circuit block. (Not shown).

  As will be described in detail later, the image signal processing circuit 41 converts the input image signal into an image signal of each color of the number of pixels and the number of gradations that can be displayed on the panel 10, and further, the light emission / non-display for each subfield of the discharge cell. Light emission is converted into image data of each color corresponding to “1” and “0” of each bit of the digital signal.

  The data electrode drive circuit 42 converts the image data of each color output from the image signal processing circuit 41 into address pulses corresponding to the data electrodes D1 to Dm, and applies them to the data electrodes D1 to Dm. Here, since the data electrode driving circuit 42 needs to independently drive a large number of data electrodes based on the image data of each color, it is configured using a plurality of dedicated ICs.

  The timing generation circuit 45 generates various timing signals for controlling the operation of each circuit block based on the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal, and supplies them to the respective circuit blocks. Scan electrode drive circuit 43 and sustain electrode drive circuit 44 create drive voltage waveforms based on the respective timing signals and apply them to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn and sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn.

  Next, a driving voltage waveform for driving panel 10 and its operation will be described. In the present embodiment, one field is divided into 10 subfields (SF1, SF2,..., SF10), and each subfield is (1, 2, 3, 6, 11, 18, 30, 44). , 60, 81). As described above, in the present embodiment, the luminance weight is set to be larger as the luminance weight of the subfield arranged later. However, in the present invention, the number of subfields and the luminance weight of each subfield are not limited to the above values.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a driving voltage waveform of the plasma display device 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the initializing period, first, in the first half, the data electrodes D1 to Dm and the sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn are held at the voltage 0 (V), and the discharge starts from the voltage Vi1 that is lower than the discharge start voltage with respect to the scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. A ramp waveform voltage that gradually increases toward the voltage Vi2 exceeding the start voltage is applied. Then, weak initializing discharge is caused in all the discharge cells, and wall voltages are accumulated on scan electrodes SC1 to SCn, sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and data electrodes D1 to Dm. Here, the wall voltage on the electrode refers to a voltage generated by wall charges accumulated on the dielectric layer covering the electrode, the phosphor layer, or the like.

  Subsequently, in the latter half of the initialization period, sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn are maintained at positive voltage Ve1, and a ramp waveform voltage that gently decreases from voltage Vi3 to voltage Vi4 is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. Then, a weak initializing discharge is caused again in all the discharge cells, and the wall voltages on scan electrodes SC1 to SCn, sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, and data electrodes D1 to Dm are adjusted to values suitable for the address operation.

  In some of the subfields constituting one field, the first half of the initializing period may be omitted. In this case, the discharge cells that have been subjected to the sustain discharge in the immediately preceding subfield may be omitted. An initialization operation is selectively performed. FIG. 4 shows drive voltage waveforms for performing the initialization operation having the first half and the latter half in the initialization period of SF1, and performing the initialization operation having only the second half in the initialization period of the subfield after SF2.

  In the address period, sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn are kept at voltage Ve2, and voltage Vc is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. Next, an address pulse of voltage Vd is applied to the data electrode Dk (k = 1 to m) of the discharge cell to be lit in the first row among the data electrodes D1 to Dm based on the image data of each color, and the first row. A scan pulse of voltage Va is applied to the scan electrode SC1. Then, an address discharge occurs between data electrode Dk and scan electrode SC1 and between sustain electrode SU1 and scan electrode SC1, and a positive wall voltage is generated on scan electrode SC1 and a negative voltage is applied on sustain electrode SU1. Wall voltage is accumulated. In this way, the address operation is performed in which the address discharge is caused in the discharge cells to emit light in the first row and the wall voltage is accumulated on each electrode. On the other hand, no address discharge occurs at the intersection between the data electrode Dh (h ≠ k) to which the address pulse is not applied and the scan electrode SC1. The above address operation is sequentially performed until the discharge cell in the nth row, and the address period ends.

  As described above, the data electrode drive circuit 42 drives each of the data electrodes D1 to Dm. However, when viewed from the data electrode drive circuit 42 side, each data electrode Dj is a capacitive load. Therefore, in the address period, this capacitance must be charged and discharged every time the voltage applied to each data electrode is switched from voltage 0 (V) to voltage Vd or from voltage Vd to voltage 0 (V). If the number of times of charging / discharging is large, the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit 42 also increases.

  In the subsequent sustain period, sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn are returned to voltage 0 (V), and a sustain pulse of voltage Vs is applied to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn. Then, in the discharge cell in which the address discharge has occurred, the voltage between scan electrode SCi and sustain electrode SUi is the voltage Vs plus the wall voltage on scan electrode SCi and sustain electrode SUi. The starting voltage is exceeded. A sustain discharge occurs between scan electrode SCi and sustain electrode SUi, and light is emitted. At this time, a negative wall voltage is accumulated on scan electrode SCi, and a positive wall voltage is accumulated on sustain electrode SUi.

  Subsequently, scan electrodes SC1 to SCn are returned to voltage 0 (V), and a sustain pulse of voltage Vs is applied to sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn. Then, in the discharge cell in which the sustain discharge has occurred, since the voltage between sustain electrode SUi and scan electrode SCi exceeds the discharge start voltage, a sustain discharge occurs again between sustain electrode SUi and scan electrode SCi, and the sustain cell is maintained. Negative wall voltage is accumulated on electrode SUi, and positive wall voltage is accumulated on scan electrode SCi. Thereafter, similarly, by applying the number of sustain pulses corresponding to the luminance weight to scan electrodes SC1 to SCn and sustain electrodes SU1 to SUn, the sustain discharge continues in the discharge cells that have caused the address discharge in the address period. Done. Note that a sustain discharge does not occur in a discharge cell in which no address discharge has occurred in the address period, and the wall voltage at the end of the initialization period is maintained. Thus, the maintenance operation in the maintenance period is completed.

  In the subsequent SF2 to SF10, the same operation as SF1 is performed except for the number of sustain pulses.

  In this way, in the subfield method, one field period is composed of a plurality of subfields whose luminance weights are determined in advance. A combination set for display is created by selecting a plurality of combinations from any combination of subfields, and the light emission / non-light emission of the discharge cells is controlled by using the combination of subfields belonging to the combination set for display. Key is displayed. Hereinafter, a display combination set created by selecting a combination of a plurality of subfields is referred to as a “coding table”. In the present embodiment, each color image signal, that is, a red image signal sigR, a green image signal sigG, and a blue image signal sigB, is provided with a plurality of coding tables having different combinations, and an image of each color. The coding table to be used is switched according to the signal level of the signal.

  Next, a display combination set used in the present embodiment, that is, a coding table will be described. In order to simplify the description, for each of the red image signal sigR, the green image signal sigG, and the blue image signal sigB, the gradation when displaying black is “0” and the luminance weight “ The gradation corresponding to “N” is expressed as “N”. Therefore, the gradation of the discharge cell that emits light only with SF1 having the luminance weight “1” is “1”, and the discharge cell that emits light with both SF1 with the luminance weight “1” and SF2 with the luminance weight “2”. The gradation is “3”.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a coding table used in the plasma display device 40 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 (a) is a first coding table having 90 combinations of subfields, and FIG. b) is a diagram showing a second coding table having 11 combinations of subfields. In this embodiment, each coding table used for each color image signal is selected from one of the two coding tables based on the signal level of each color image signal.

  In FIG. 5, the numerical value shown in the leftmost column indicates the value of the display gradation used for display, and the right side indicates whether or not the discharge cell is caused to emit light in each subfield when the gradation is displayed. “0” indicates no light emission, and “1” indicates light emission. For example, in FIG. 5A, in order to display the gradation “2”, the discharge cell need only emit light at SF2, and to display the gradation “14”, at SF1, SF2, and SF5. What is necessary is just to make a discharge cell light-emit. In the case of displaying the gradation “3”, there are a method of causing the discharge cells to emit light with SF1 and SF2 and a method of causing only SF3 to emit light. If a plurality of combinations are possible in this way, A combination that emits light in a subfield having as small a luminance weight as possible is selected. That is, when the gradation “3” is displayed, the discharge cells are caused to emit light at SF1 and SF2.

  As described above, the image signal processing circuit 41 uses the image signals of each color (red image signal sigR, green image signal sigG, blue image signal sigB) as digital signals for light emission / non-light emission for each subfield of the discharge cell. Are converted into image data of each color (red image data dataR, green image data dataG, and blue image data dataB) corresponding to “1” and “0” of the respective bits. Therefore, the image data “0000000” that displays the gradation “0” is non-light emitting in SF1 to SF10, and the image data “1000000000” that displays the gradation “1” emits light only with SF1, and the gradation “2”. The image data “0100000000000” for displaying “1” emits light only with SF2, and the image data “1100000000” for displaying gradation “3” emits light with SF1 and SF2.

  Note that when two image data are compared with corresponding bits, the number of unequal bits is referred to as a Hamming distance. For example, the image data of gradation “0” and the image data of gradation “1” are not equal in bit to SF1, and their Hamming distance is “1”. Further, the image data of gradation “0” and the image data of gradation “3” are not equal in bits to SF1 and SF2, and therefore their Hamming distance is “2”. The right column of FIG. 5 describes the hamming distance between the display gradation and the next higher display gradation. Here, the next highest display gradation is the highest gradation that is lower than the display gradation. For example, the right column of the display gradation “247” describes the Hamming distance “3” between the display gradation “247” and the next higher display gradation “245”.

  The first coding table is a coding table in which the hamming distance between adjacent display gradations is large, and the value is any one of “1”, “2”, and “3”, and the average value thereof is “1. 91 ". The second coding table is the coding table with the smallest Hamming distance, and its value is “1” and the average value thereof is “1.00”. As described above, in the present embodiment, the average value of the Hamming distance between a certain gradation in the coding table with a small number of combinations and the next highest gradation is determined as a certain gradation in the coding table with a large number of combinations and its gradation. Next, the first coding table and the second coding table are generated so as to be smaller than the average value of the Hamming distance with the next higher gradation.

  When an image is displayed, if a coding table having a large number of combinations of subfields is used, the number of gradations that can be displayed increases, so that the ability to represent the image can be improved. However, when the Hamming distance is increased, the frequency of switching the voltage applied to each data electrode from the voltage 0 (V) to the voltage Vd or from the voltage Vd to the voltage 0 (V) increases in the writing period. Power consumption increases.

  Therefore, if a coding table with a large number of subfield combinations is used, the number of gradations that can be displayed is increased and the ability to express an image is improved. However, the power consumption increases because the Hamming distance between adjacent display gradations increases. Become. In addition, pseudo contours are likely to occur. On the other hand, if a coding table with a small number of subfield combinations is used, the number of gradations that can be displayed is reduced, so that the ability to express an image is reduced. In addition, pseudo contours are less likely to occur.

  Therefore, if the image signal does not deteriorate the image display quality even if the displayable gradation is small, the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit can be achieved by using a coding table with a small number of subfield combinations for the image signal. Can be suppressed. In the present embodiment, the signal levels of the image signals of the respective colors are compared, and the image display is performed using the coding table having a large number of gradations that can be displayed for the image signal of the color having a relatively large signal level. Ensure quality. On the other hand, for an image signal of a color with a relatively low signal level, even if the number of gradations that can be displayed is small, the image display quality is not greatly deteriorated. Use to reduce power consumption. In this way, the signal levels of the red image signal sigR, the green image signal sigG, and the blue image signal sigB are compared. Further, by using a display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than a display combination set used for an image signal of a color with a high signal level, power is reduced without sacrificing image display quality.

  Specifically, for the red image signal sigR, the signal level of the red image signal sigR is compared with the signal level of the green image signal sigG, and the ratio to the green image signal sigG is determined by a predetermined constant Kr. For the smaller red image signal sigR, the display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than the display combination set used for the red image signal sigR whose ratio to the green image signal sigG is equal to or greater than a predetermined constant Kr. Is used.

That is, comparing the red image signal sigR and the green image signal sigG,
(Condition R1) sigG × Kr ≦ sigR
In a region where the above holds, the first coding table is used for the red image signal sigR.

(Condition R2) sigR <sigG × Kr
In a region where the above holds, the second coding table is used for the red image signal sigR.

  However, the predetermined constant Kr is a constant set for the red image signal sigR, and in this embodiment, Kr = 0.75.

  For the green image signal sigG, the signal level of the green image signal sigG, the signal level of the red image signal sigR, and the signal level of the blue image signal sigB are compared, and the red image signal sigR and blue For a green image signal sigG whose ratio to the larger image signal sigB is smaller than a predetermined constant Kg, for the larger image signal of the red image signal sigR and the blue image signal sigB A display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than the display combination set used for the green image signal sigG having a ratio equal to or greater than a predetermined constant Kg is used.

That is, the red image signal sigR, the green image signal sigG, and the blue image signal sigB are compared,
(Condition G1) max (sigR, sigB) × Kg ≦ sigG
In a region where the above holds, the first coding table is used for the green image signal sigG. Here, max (A, B) indicates that the larger one of the numerical values A and B is selected.

(Condition G2) sigG <max (sigR, sigB) × Kg
In a region where the above holds, the second coding table is used for the green image signal sigG.

  However, the predetermined constant Kg is a constant set for the green image signal sigG, and in the present embodiment, Kg = 0.25.

  For the blue image signal sigB, the signal level of the blue image signal sigB is compared with the signal level of the green image signal sigG, and the ratio of the blue image signal sigG to the green image signal sigG is smaller than a predetermined constant Kb. For the image signal sigB, a display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than the display combination set used for the blue image signal sigB whose ratio to the green image signal sigG is equal to or greater than a predetermined constant Kb is used.

That is, comparing the blue image signal sigB and the green image signal sigG,
(Condition B1) sigG × Kb ≦ sigB
In a region where the above holds, the first coding table is used for the blue image signal sigB.

(Condition B2) sigB <sigG × Kb
In a region where the above holds, the second coding table is used for the blue image signal sigB.

  However, the predetermined constant Kb is a constant set for the blue image signal sigB, and in this embodiment, Kb = 0.75.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing proper use of the coding table of the plasma display device 40 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The horizontal axis represents the signal level of the red image signal sigR, and the vertical axis represents the green image signal sigG. The signal level is shown. In order to make the drawing easy to see, the signal level of the blue image signal sigB is set to “0”.

  In the image signal in the region I in FIG. 6, the relative signal level of the red image signal sigR is lower than that of the green image signal sigG, and (Condition R2) and (Condition G1) are satisfied. Therefore, the second coding table is used for the red image signal sigR, and the first coding table is used for the green image signal sigG. The image signal in the region II has no large signal level difference between the green image signal sigG and the red image signal sigR, and (Condition R1) and (Condition G1) are satisfied. Therefore, the first coding table is used for the red image signal sigR and the green image signal sigG. In the image signal in the region III, the relative signal level of the green image signal sigG is lower than that of the red image signal sigR, and (Condition R1) and (Condition G2) are satisfied. Therefore, the second coding table is used for the green image signal sigG, and the first coding table is used for the red image signal sigR.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the second coding is applied to a signal in which the relative signal level is small among the image signals of the respective colors and the display quality of the image does not deteriorate even if the number of displayable gradations is reduced. A table is used to reduce power without sacrificing image display quality.

  When the signal levels of the image signals of the respective colors are the same, the green light emission has the highest luminance and the visual sensitivity to gradation is the highest compared to the red light emission and blue light emission. In the present embodiment, in consideration of the above, the coding table used for the red image signal sigR is selected by comparing the red image signal sigR and the green image signal sigG, and the blue image signal sigB and The coding table used for the blue image signal sigB was selected by comparing with the green image signal sigG.

  Next, a method for switching the coding table in the present embodiment based on the image signals of the respective colors will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram showing details of the image signal processing circuit 41 of the plasma display device 40 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The image signal processing circuit 41 includes a color separation unit 51, an R comparison unit 53, a G comparison unit 54, a B comparison unit 55, an R data conversion unit 56, a G data conversion unit 57, and a B data conversion unit 58. And.

  The color separation unit 51 separates an input image signal such as an NTSC image signal into three primary color signals, that is, a red image signal sigR, a green image signal sigG, and a blue image signal sigB. The color separation unit 51 may be omitted when an image signal of each color is input as the input image signal.

  The R comparison unit 53 compares a constant multiple of the green image signal sigG and the red image signal sigR using a predetermined constant Kr set for the red image signal sigR. In the present embodiment, the value of the constant Kr is “0.75”. Then, a signal indicating which of (Condition R1) and (Condition R2) is satisfied is output to the R data conversion unit 56 as a comparison result.

  The G comparison unit 54 uses a predetermined constant Kg set for the green image signal sigG to obtain a larger constant multiple of the red image signal sigR and the blue image signal sigB and the green image signal sigG. Compare. In the present embodiment, the value of the constant Kg is “0.25”. Then, a signal indicating which of (Condition G1) and (Condition G2) is satisfied is output to the G data conversion unit 57 as a comparison result.

  The B comparison unit 55 compares a constant multiple of the green image signal sigG with the blue image signal sigB using a predetermined constant Kb set for the blue image signal sigB. In the present embodiment, the value of the constant Kb is “0.75”. Then, a signal indicating which of (Condition B1) and (Condition B2) is satisfied is output to the B data converter 58 as a comparison result.

  The R data conversion unit 56 includes a coding selection unit 61 and two coding tables 62a and 62b, and controls the red image signal sigR to red image data dataR, that is, the light emission / non-light emission of the red discharge cells. Convert to a combination of subfields.

  The coding selection unit 61 selects one of the two coding tables 62a and 62b based on the comparison result of the R comparison unit 53. Specifically, the first coding table 62a is selected in the region where (Condition R1) is satisfied, and the second coding table 62b is selected in the region where (Condition R2) is satisfied. Each of the coding tables 62a and 62b is configured using a data conversion table such as a ROM, for example, and converts the input red image signal sigR into red image data dataR.

  The G data conversion unit 57 includes a coding selection unit 64 and two coding tables 65a and 65b, and converts the green image signal sigG into green image data dataG. The B data conversion unit 58 includes a coding selection unit 67 and two coding tables 68a and 68b, and converts the blue image signal sigB into blue image data dataB. Since the function of each circuit block is substantially the same as the corresponding circuit block of the R data converter 56, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Here, the coding tables 62a, 65a, and 68a are the first coding tables shown in FIG. 5A, and the coding tables 62b, 65b, and 68b are the second coding tables shown in FIG. 5B. It is.

  By configuring in this way, the signal levels of the red image signal, the green image signal, and the blue image signal are compared, and the color image signal with the low signal level is the image signal with the color with the high signal level. It is possible to control the light emission / non-light emission of the discharge cell by using a display combination set having a smaller number of subfield combinations.

  In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which each coding table used for each color image signal is selected from two coding tables based on the signal level of each color image signal. . However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, three or more coding tables may be provided for each color image signal, and one of the three or more coding tables may be selected and used based on the signal level of each color image signal. In addition to the signal level of the image signal of each color, the coding table may be used properly in consideration of other attributes such as image movement. In addition, a circuit for displaying a gradation that is not included in the display gradation may be added. One example thereof will be described below as a second embodiment.

(Embodiment 2)
Since the structure of panel 10 and the drive voltage waveform applied to the electrodes are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. In the second embodiment, each coding table used for each color image signal is selected from four coding tables and used.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a coding table used in the plasma display device 40 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 8A shows a first coding table having 90 combinations of subfields, which is the same as the first coding table shown in FIG. FIG. 8B shows a second coding table having 44 combinations of subfields, and FIG. 8C shows a third coding table having 20 combinations of subfields. FIG. 8D shows a fourth coding table having 11 subfield combinations, which is the same as the second coding table shown in FIG.

  The first coding table has the largest hamming distance between adjacent display gradations, and its value is any one of “1”, “2”, and “3”, and the average value thereof is “1.91”. It is. In the second coding table, the Hamming distance is “1” or “2”, the frequency of “2” is large, and the average value thereof is “1.77”. In the third coding table, the Hamming distance is “1” or “2”, but the frequency of “2” is almost the same as the frequency of “1”, and the average value thereof is “1.47”. The fourth coding table has the smallest Hamming distance, its value is “1”, and the average value thereof is “1.00”. Thus, also in this embodiment, the average value of the Hamming distance between a certain gradation in the coding table with a small number of combinations and the next highest gradation is the same as that in a coding table with a large number of combinations. It is smaller than the average value of the Hamming distance with the next higher gradation.

  As described above, using a coding table with a large number of combinations of subfields increases the number of gradations that can be displayed and improves the ability to express an image. However, the hamming distance between adjacent display gradations increases, which is consumed. Electric power increases. In addition, pseudo contours are likely to occur. On the other hand, if a coding table with a small number of subfield combinations is used, the number of gradations that can be displayed is reduced, so that the ability to express an image is reduced. In addition, pseudo contours are less likely to occur.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, an area for displaying a still image with high visual sensitivity or a slow-moving image (hereinafter, abbreviated as “still image”) for an image signal with a high signal level. In this case, priority is given to the ability to express an image by using a coding table having a larger number of combinations of subfields than a region for displaying a fast moving image (hereinafter abbreviated as “moving image”). That is, for the image signal for displaying a moving image, a display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than the display combination set used for an image signal for displaying a still image is used.

Specifically, the red image signal sigR and the green image signal sigG are compared with the red image signal sigR.
(Condition R1) An area for displaying a still image, and sigG × Kr1 ≦ sigR
In a region where holds, the first coding table is used.

(Condition R2) A region for displaying a moving image, and sigG × Kr1 ≦ sigR
In the region where holds, the second coding table is used.

(Condition R3) sigG × Kr2 ≦ sigR <sigG × Kr1
In a region where the above holds, the third coding table is used.

(Condition R4) sigR <sigG × Kr2
In the region where holds, the fourth coding table is used.

  However, the predetermined constants Kr1 and Kr2 are constants set for the red image signal sigR, and in the present embodiment, Kr1 = 1.5 and Kr2 = 0.75.

For the green image signal sigG, the red image signal sigR, the green image signal sigG, and the blue image signal sigB are compared,
(Condition G1) An area for displaying a still image, and max (sigR, sigB) × Kg1 ≦ sigG
In a region where holds, the first coding table is used.

(Condition G2) A region for displaying a moving image, and max (sigR, sigB) × Kg1 ≦ sigG
In the region where holds, the second coding table is used.

(Condition G3) max (sigR, sigB) × Kg2 ≦ sigG <max (sigR, sigB) × Kg1
In a region where the above holds, the third coding table is used.

(Condition G4) sigG <max (sigR, sigB) × Kg2
In the region where holds, the fourth coding table is used.

  However, the predetermined constants Kg1 and Kg2 are constants set for the green image signal sigG, and in this embodiment, Kg1 = 0.5 and Kg2 = 0.25.

Further, for the blue image signal sigB, the blue image signal sigB and the green image signal sigG are compared,
(Condition B1) An area for displaying a still image, and sigG × Kb1 ≦ sigB
In a region where holds, the first coding table is used.

(Condition B2) A region for displaying a moving image, and sigG × Kb1 ≦ sigB
In the region where holds, the second coding table is used.

(Condition B3) sigG × Kb2 ≦ sigB <sigG × Kb1
In a region where the above holds, the third coding table is used.

(Condition B4) sigB <sigG × Kb2
In the region where holds, the fourth coding table is used.

  However, the predetermined constants Kb1 and Kb2 are constants set for the blue image signal sigB, and in this embodiment, Kb1 = 1.5 and Kb2 = 0.75.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the fourth coding table is used for a signal that has a low signal level among the image signals of each color and does not deteriorate the display quality of the image even if the number of gradations that can be displayed is reduced. . The fourth coding table has the smallest number of subfield combinations, and therefore the smallest number of display gradations. On the other hand, the hamming distance between a certain gradation and the next higher gradation, that is, the hamming distance between adjacent display gradations in the coding table is small, and the coding table in which the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit 42 is minimized. .

  In addition, the first coding table is used for a still image having a high signal level and reducing the display quality of the image if the number of displayable gradations is excessively reduced. The second coding table is used for a moving image having a high signal level and reducing the number of gradations that can be displayed if the display quality of the image is deteriorated. The first coding table and the second coding table have a large Hamming distance between adjacent display gradations, and although the effect of reducing power consumption is small, the number of display gradations is large, so that the display quality of the image is deteriorated. An image can be displayed without causing it to occur. The third coding table has intermediate characteristics between the second coding table and the fourth coding table, and the signal level of the image signal of each color is slightly small, and the display quality of the image is reduced when the number of gradations that can be displayed is reduced. This is a coding table used for a signal in which is reduced to some extent.

  In this way, in the present embodiment, power is constantly suppressed without sacrificing image display quality.

  Next, a method for switching the coding table based on the image signal in the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram showing details of the image signal processing circuit 41 of the plasma display device 40 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The image signal processing circuit 41 includes a color separation unit 51, a motion detection unit 72, an R comparison unit 73, a G comparison unit 74, a B comparison unit 75, an R data conversion unit 76, and a G data conversion unit 77. And a B data conversion unit 78.

  The color separation unit 51 is the same as the color separation unit 51 in the first embodiment.

  The motion detection unit 72 includes, for example, a frame memory and a difference circuit, calculates the difference between the image signals between frames, and if the absolute value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is a moving image, and if it is less than the predetermined value, it is a still image. The result is detected and output to the R data conversion unit 76, the G data conversion unit 77, and the B data conversion unit 78. In FIG. 9, the motion detection unit 72 inputs a composite image signal such as an NTSC image signal. However, when inputting an image signal of each color as an image signal, the image signal is input by inputting those image signals. Detecting the movement of

  The R comparison unit 73 compares the red image signal sigR with a constant multiple of the green image signal sigG using predetermined constants Kr1 and Kr2 set for the red image signal sigR. In the present embodiment, two constants Kr1 and Kr2 are set, and the values are “1.5” and “0.75”, respectively. A signal indicating which of (Condition R1), (Condition R2), (Condition R3), and (Condition R4) is satisfied is output to the R data conversion unit 76 as a comparison result.

  The G comparison unit 74 uses predetermined constants Kg1 and Kg2 set for the green image signal sigG, and uses the larger constants of the green image signal sigG, the red image signal sigR, and the blue image signal sigB. Compare with times. In this embodiment, two constants Kg1 and Kg2 are set, and the values are “0.5” and “0.25”, respectively. Then, a signal indicating which of (Condition G1), (Condition G2), (Condition G3), and (Condition G4) is satisfied is output to the G data conversion unit 77 as a comparison result.

  The B comparison unit 75 compares the blue image signal sigB and a constant multiple of the green image signal sigG using predetermined constants Kb1 and Kb2 set for the blue image signal sigB. In this embodiment, two constants Kb1 and Kb2 are set, and the values are “1.5” and “0.75”, respectively. Then, a signal indicating which of (Condition B1), (Condition B2), (Condition B3), and (Condition B4) is satisfied is output to the B data conversion unit 78 as a comparison result.

  The R data conversion unit 76 includes a coding selection unit 81, four coding tables 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d, and an error diffusion processing unit 83, and converts the red image signal sigR into red image data dataR. .

  The coding selection unit 81 selects one of the four coding tables 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d based on the motion detection output detected by the motion detection unit 72 and the comparison result of the R comparison unit 73. Specifically, if (Condition R1) holds, the first coding table 82a, if (Condition R2) holds, the second coding table 82b, and if (Condition R3) holds, the third coding table 82c, If (Condition R4) holds, the fourth coding table 82d is selected.

  Each of the coding tables 82a, 82b, 82c, and 82d is configured by using a data conversion table such as a ROM, and converts the input red image signal sigR into red image data.

  The error diffusion processing unit 83 is provided to display pseudo gradations that cannot be displayed in the coding table, and performs error diffusion processing, dither processing, etc. on the red image data and outputs it as red image data dataR. To do.

  The G data conversion unit 77 includes a coding selection unit 84, four coding tables 85a, 85b, 85c, and 85d, and an error diffusion processing unit 86, and converts the green image signal sigG into green image data dataG. . Since the function of each circuit block is substantially the same as the corresponding circuit block of the R data converter 76, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The B data conversion unit 78 includes a coding selection unit 87, four coding tables 88a, 88b, 88c, and 88d, and an error diffusion processing unit 89, and converts the blue image signal sigB into blue image data dataB. . The function of each circuit block is substantially the same as each corresponding circuit block of the R data conversion unit 76.

  Here, the coding tables 82a, 85a, and 88a are the first coding tables shown in FIG. 8A, and the coding tables 82b, 85b, and 88b are the second coding tables shown in FIG. 8B. The coding tables 82c, 85c and 88c are the third coding table shown in FIG. 8C, and the coding tables 82d, 85d and 88d are the fourth coding table shown in FIG. 8D. It is.

  In the first embodiment, the number of coding tables is two, and in the second embodiment, the number of coding tables is four. However, the present invention is not limited to this and other than that. A configuration in which a plurality of coding tables are switched and used may be used.

  In the present invention, the number of subfields and the luminance weight of each subfield are not limited to the above values, and the specific numerical values used in the above-described embodiments are merely examples. First, it is desirable to set the optimum value appropriately according to the characteristics of the panel and the specifications of the plasma display device.

  Since the power consumption of the data electrode driving circuit can be reduced without sacrificing image display quality, the present invention is useful as a driving method for a plasma display device.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a panel of a plasma display device in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Electrode arrangement of the plasma display panel Circuit block diagram of the plasma display device The figure which shows the drive voltage waveform of the plasma display apparatus (A), (b) is a figure which shows the coding table used with the plasma display apparatus. The figure which shows the proper use of the coding table of the same plasma display device Circuit block diagram showing details of an image signal processing circuit of the plasma display device (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the coding table used with the plasma display apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Circuit block diagram showing details of an image signal processing circuit of the plasma display device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Panel 22 Scan electrode 23 Sustain electrode 24 Display electrode pair 32 Data electrode 40 Plasma display apparatus 41 Image signal processing circuit 42 Data electrode drive circuit 43 Scan electrode drive circuit 44 Sustain electrode drive circuit 45 Timing generation circuit 51 Color separation part 53,73 R comparison unit 54, 74 G comparison unit 55, 75 B comparison unit 56, 76 R data conversion unit 57, 77 G data conversion unit 58, 78 B data conversion unit 61, 64, 67, 81, 84, 87 Coding selection unit 62a, 62b, 65a, 65b, 68a, 68b, 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d, 85a, 85b, 85c, 85d, 88a, 88b, 88c, 88d Coding table 72 Motion detection unit 83, 86, 89 Error diffusion processing unit

Claims (6)

One field period is composed of a plurality of subfields with predetermined luminance weights, and a combination set for display is created by selecting a plurality of combinations from any combination of the subfields. A method of driving a plasma display device that displays gradation by controlling light emission / non-light emission of a discharge cell using a combination of subfields belonging to
A plurality of display combination sets having different numbers of combinations are provided,
Red image signal, a green image signal, by comparing the respective signal levels of the blue image signal, for relatively signal of a lower level color image signals, relatively signal level greater color image A method for driving a plasma display device, wherein a display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than a display combination set used for signals is used. The average value of the Hamming distance between a gray level in the display combination set with a small number of combinations and the next higher gray level is the gray level in the display combination set with a large number of combinations and the next higher gray level. 2. The method of driving a plasma display device according to claim 1, wherein the hamming distance is smaller than an average value of the hamming distance. Compare the signal level of the red image signal with the signal level of the green image signal,
For a red image signal whose ratio to the green image signal is smaller than a predetermined constant, the combination of display combinations used for a red image signal whose ratio to the green image signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined constant 2. The method of driving a plasma display device according to claim 1, wherein a combination set for display with a small number is used. Compare the signal level of the green image signal, the signal level of the red image signal, and the signal level of the blue image signal,
For a green image signal whose ratio of the red image signal and the blue image signal to the larger image signal is smaller than a predetermined constant, the larger image signal of the red image signal and the blue image signal 2. The method for driving a plasma display device according to claim 1, wherein a display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than a display combination set used for a green image signal having a ratio to a predetermined constant or more is used. . Compare the signal level of the blue image signal with the signal level of the green image signal,
For a blue image signal whose ratio to the green image signal is smaller than a predetermined constant, the combination of display combinations used for a blue image signal whose ratio to the green image signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined constant 2. The method of driving a plasma display device according to claim 1, wherein a combination set for display with a small number is used. The display combination set having a smaller number of combinations than the display combination set used for an image signal for displaying a still image is used for an image signal for displaying a moving image. Driving method of plasma display apparatus.